The Hammers are hopeful of securing a deal for the target-man but may have to see off interest from Tottenham and Newcastle, however, who have both reportedly registered their interest in signing the striker that cost £35 million when moving from the Magpies to Liverpool in January 2011.

Carroll has impressed during his season-long stay at Upton Park, despite suffering niggling knee and hamstring injuries, and has convinced the likes of Sullivan that a deal would be in the club's best interests having fired seven goals for a club on course for a top-half finish.

Sullivan told reporters: "We would love to keep him beyond this season and we will soon be sitting down with Andy and ­Liverpool to make some progress on that front.

"Andy has battled back from injury twice to put in a series of tireless shifts for the team. His game is about so much more than just scoring goals.

"He is so often the focal point of ­everything good we do going forward."